Monday night Engineer Keith Yapp updated the Clear Lake City Council on their well project, giving them information on the four bids that were submitted.

Minnesota Mechanical Solutions was the low bidder at $996,345 for the well and facility. All four bids were under the engineer’s estimate, which was $1.2 million. 

Yapp strongly recommended they also consider the alternate bid for replacing the control panel for outdated well #2 so all the wells will be able to communicate with each other without problems.

Well #1 will be taken offline but not abandoned; it can be used for irrigation and as a backup.

Council Member Dale Powers asked what it was about the building itself that made it so expensive. Yapp replied that it’s a mechanical building for the operation of the pump with a lot of parts and pieces to it. It’s also a block building; all of which make it more expensive than a traditional building.

A motion carried approving the low bid as well as the alternate bid. The project is planned to begin yet this year.

RR Access Rd

Mayor Tim Goenner informed the council two long-time residents had again approached him regarding the railroad access road.

The city doesn’t maintain the road so isn’t responsible for it, however, when contacted about the potholes the railroad responded that they weren’t the ones creating the potholes, so they won’t be fixing them. The railroad owns the property.

“Should we plow it?” Goenner asked the council. “Should we maintain it? It’s not our road but they [residents] still pay city taxes. I don’t think it’s a big deal to add some fill.”

Council Member Karen White reminded him their previous thoughts on the issue was that if they fix the road residents will expect the city to continue doing so.

The council decided to speak with their attorney about the issue before any decisions were made.

Tobacco 21

Although preliminary, Clerk Kari Mechtel told the council their thoughts on changing the age to purchase tobacco products to 21 had been requested. The city has their own tobacco ordinance.

The council was in agreement that it was a good idea, and if the county adopts it, they would most likely adopt it as well.

Other Business

A motion carried approving the Joint Resolution for Orderly Annexation; Clear Lake Twp. has already approved the resolution.

“I’m glad to see it get to this point,” said Goenner. “It’s been a few years. The next phase should go a lot easier.”

A motion carried approving hands-free technology for city vehicles.

A motion carried approving the 2019-2020 insurance renewal.

The sheriff reported 22 points of contact for July, including three public assists, three suspicious vehicle and two civil complaints.

Powers asked how the ‘no turn on red’ has been going at the intersection of Hwy. 10 and Hwy. 24. He inquired if having the state patrol also monitor the area would help and was told yes; the intersection is technically their road anyway.

Powers also informed the council he had invited the new MnDOT district engineer to attend their September meeting because it’s important he knows the history of that intersection.

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. due to Labor Day.